elly bound with cords and dragged through the streets of
the city until he was dead. It is said that his body was removed,
A.D. 465, to Venice, where the famous Church of St. Mark was
erected over his grave. This Festival has been observed since
A.D. 750. In ecclesiastical art, St. Mark is represented with a
lion at his side, with reference to the royal character of the Son
of David, which is emphasized in this Gospel.

Marriage.--The sad prevalence of divorce in the United States might
not have come to pass if people had clear ideas of what Marriage
really is. Marriage is a great deal more than simply a civil
contract. It is a divine institution, "an honorable estate,
instituted {182} by God in the time of man's innocency." It is a
religious ceremony and is sacramental in character. It ought,
therefore, to be clearly understood that marriage simply by a
"squire" or other legal officer, detracts from the sacredness and
dignity of "this holy estate," and belittles the binding character
of the "marriage tie." Even a secular paper could declare, "We do
not believe there should be any civil marriages of any kind. Every
ceremony should be solemnized by the Church and lifted above the
level of a real estate transaction." In this custom of civil or
legal marriages may be found at least one cause, perhaps the
principal cause of divorce, for it encourages such a low view of
the sacredness of the Marriage Rite.

Taught by our Lord and His Apostles, the Church emphasizes the
religious and sacramental character of Holy Matrimony and has
always enjoined its solemnization with ecclesiastical ceremonies
and by ecclesiastical persons. This is clearly set forth by the
earliest Christian writers. Thus St. Ignatius in one of his Epistles
says: "It is fitting for those who purpose matrimony to accomplish
their union with the sanction of the Bishop, that their marriage
may be in the Lord." Tertullian speaks of marriages being "ratified
before God," and adds, "How can we find words to describe the
happiness of that Marriage in which the Church joins together,
which the Oblation confirms, the Benediction seals, the Angels
proclaim when sealed, and the Father ratifies." St. Ambrose calls
Marriage a Sacrament, and says, "Marriage must be sanctified by the
Priest's sanction and blessing." {183}

These utterances unfold the mind of the Church in the times nearest
the days of our Lord and His Apostles, and in all ages ever since
the Church ha